In Today’s Deep Space Extra… After becoming ill in Antarctica, Apollo 11 moon-walker Buzz Aldrin, 86, was evacuated to New Zealand where he is now in “stable” condition. A Russian cargo capsule launched to the International Space Station instead broke up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin is ‘safe’ in New Zealand after falling ill in Antarctica
Geekwire (12/1): Apollo 11 moon-walker Buzz Aldrin, 86, was recovering in Christchurch, New Zealand late Thursday, after becoming ill in Antarctica. “After a grueling 24 hours, we’re safe in New Zealand,” said Aldrin’s manager. The long retired astronaut was described in “stable” condition.
House members seek Apollo 1 memorial at Arlington National Cemetery
Spacepolicyonline.com (12/1): With the current session of the U.S. Congress coming to a close, an effort is under way in the House to establish a memorial for the Apollo 1 astronauts at the Arlington National Cemetery. Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee perished in a fire on January 27, 1967 while aboard their spacecraft during a training session at their Florida launch site. U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a high ranking member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, is leading the legislative effort. Similar memorials have been established for the astronauts who perished aboard the shuttles Challenger and Columbia in 1986 and 2003.
Hollywood spotlight hits NASA Langley’s leading lady during ‘Hidden Figures’ advance screening
Hampton Roads Daily Press, of Virginia (12/1): Katherine Johnson was honored Thursday at NASA’s Langley Research Center at an advance screening of Hidden Figures. The feature film tells the real life story of Johnson, now 98, and other African American women whose math skills became an essential part of early U.S. human spaceflight.
Space Science
Astronomers primed to track spectacular comet encounters
Seeker (12/1): Three comets are predicted to pass close but safely distant from the Earth over the next two years. Researchers at the Planetary Science Institute hope an international observing campaign, with both amateurs and professionals participating, will unlock more comet secrets.
China starts collecting space program proposals
Xinhuanet, of China (12/1): The Chinese Academy of Science is soliciting proposals from universities, research institutes and its aerospace industry for space initiatives that could be implemented in the next 10 to 15 years.
Low Earth Orbit
Russian space station cargo freighter lost on launch
Spaceflightnow.com (12/1): Russia’s Progress MS-04/65 experienced a third-stage difficulty following liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday at 9:51 a.m. EST. Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, announced an investigation. The freighter, carrying 5.6 tons of propellant, crew supplies and space station equipment, was to dock with the six-person station on Saturday. NASA and Roscosmos said the station’s six-person crew has plenty of supplies despite the loss.
Insurance payout for lost spacecraft estimated at $39 million
TASS, of Russia (12/2): Russia’s Progress MS-04/65 loss is insured, according to an insurance market source, for the equivalent of $39 million U.S. dollars.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
SpaceX could return to flight Dec. 16, satellite launch customer says
Los Angeles Times (12/1): Grounded by a September 1 launch pad fire and explosion at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, SpaceX is looking to a December 16 return to flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, according to communications satellite provider Iridium. SpaceX is one of two NASA contracted companies launching supplies to the six-person International Space Station.
Suborbital
Virgin Galactic conducts captive carry flight of SpaceShipTwo
Spaceflight Insider (12/1): Virgin Galactic carried out the fourth in a recent series of piloted captive carry test flights while lodged under the WhiteKnightTwo. The lengthy test flight originated from the Mojave Air and Spaceport in California. The suborbital passenger spaceflight carrier is recovering from an October 2014 crash in which one test pilot died and another was seriously injured.
Japanese company aims to provide space travel by 2023
Mainichi Daily News, of Japan (12/2): Nagoya-based PD Aerospace Ltd. plans a test flight of a suborbital passenger vehicle by 2018. If development efforts are successful, the company intends to initiate passenger flights by the end of 2023. A flight vehicle for six passengers and two crew is envisioned.